England flanker at a loss to explain capitulation to opponents who look well
equipped to have a serious tilt at what would be a fourth European triumph
in six years

It was left to Tom Wood to attempt to pick through the remnants of Northampton Saints’ humiliating defeat by Leinster that all but ended the Premiership side’s Heineken Cup hopes for another season.

It was so overwhelming in its nature that it appeared to shake the club to its very core.

Wood is one of the most eloquent and intelligent players in the English game, but even he was at a loss to explain the reasons for his side’s utter capitulation to a Leinster side, who look well equipped to have a serious tilt at what would be a fourth European triumph in six years.

The England flanker was most aggrieved that Northampton appeared to have learnt nothing from a similarly humbling defeat by Ulster in the pools stages at Franklin’s Gardens 12 months ago.

Once again, Northampton, famed for their work-rate and commitment, allowed their proud citadel to be sacked without even firing a shot.

“There was no hairdryer treatment afterwards because we’re all pretty ashamed of what happened,” Wood said. “To have fans call you an embarrassment as you leave the field is about as bad as it gets.

“These are the occasions you live for in rugby. It is one thing to lose to a better side. If Leinster had really constructed something, built phases and put us under pressure and eventually broken us, then you would have to take your hats off to them.

“But to go out there and lose having not even played a hand is soul-destroying. That is probably the longest 80 minutes I have ever played.

“It was worse than Ulster last year. I am ashamed to say it but I couldn’t wait for the final whistle.

“We didn’t even make mistakes on the front foot. We just stood off them and absorbed pressure until they scored. We backed off until eventually they walked over our line and that is just unforgivable at this level.”

In Northampton’s mitigation, they were floored by a Leinster side that were in imperious mood, personified by an evergreen display by Brian O’Driscoll in front of Warren Gatland, the Lions coach who dropped him for the only time in his career last summer ahead of the Lions’ third Test against Australia.

Gatland was in the TV studio at the ground as the 34-year-old created two of Leinster’s six tries and scored one himself for good measure to inflict a record-equalling heaviest defeat in Europe for Northampton.

O’Driscoll played a key role in ruthlessly exploiting Northampton’s misfortune to lose full-back James Wilson in the final minute of the warm-up to a calf injury. Ken Pisi was forced to switch from the wing as cover and his inexperience at full-back was a red rag to the blue hordes.

The tone was set when Pisi knocked on a hastily taken mark and Leinster scored from the scrum, with O’Driscoll’s grubber kick eluding the Northampton full-back as Luke Fitzgerald crossed for the first of a hat-trick of tries after just two minutes.

When O’Driscoll threw a sumptuous pass through his legs to enable Rob Kearney to put Fitzgerald over for his second try in the eighth minute, the Franklin’s Gardens faithful already feared the worst and so it proved. Further tries by Jamie Heaslip and Eoin Reddan – after Kearney had snatched a high ball from Pisi — ensured the bonus point was wrapped up for the Irish province four minutes before half-time.

But for some frantic and disjointed resistance led by Lee Dickson, who crossed for a second-half try after O’Driscoll had scored having picked off a loose pass by Dom Waldouck, the margin of Northampton’s defeat could have been much worse. Leinster were in no mood to let up, however, and Fitzpatrick, who had earlier had a try ruled out because of a forward pass following a superb break by Sean Cronin, underscored his hunger by tracking Zane Kirchener before finishing off another flowing attack.

The concern for Northampton is there is little time to lick their wounds. On Saturday night they must pitch up in front of an expected full house at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin to face the boys in blue all over again.

Leinster are already eight points clear of Northampton at the top of Pool One, so realistically there is only pride at stake for the English side now.

“It is not beyond us as typically happens in these circumstances, they might think we have got this won and there may be a little complacency creep in after them destroying us here at home,” Wood added. “But you can’t rely on that. We will go out there and regroup and hopefully put in at least a performance we can be proud of.”